Charges filed in illegal game room bust in N. Harris Co.

HARRIS COUNTY, Texas- Deputies took down an illegal game room in north Harris County late Thursday night.

“We’ve had under surveillance for about two months,” said Harris County Precinct 4 Constable Mark Herman. “ Our undercover officers have witnessed numerous violations of the law.”

The game room was located in the 900 block of FM 1960 W. at Red Oak Drive near churches, schools and daycares.

According to Harris County Precinct 4, they began to investigate the business after receiving several tips that illegal gambling was taking place.

It took to,e to gain access, and deputies went undercover watching for illegal activity. Eventually, a search warrant was issued.

They said one of the biggest crimes was that the game room was paying out cash, rather than prizes or coupons which are legally allowed.

Dozens of machines were seized, along with over $15,000 in illegal proceeds.

“I’ve seen a lot of people coming, especially elderly people,” said one woman who works in the area. She doesn’t know who was running the game room. She asked us to hide her identity because residents and businesses are fearful of retaliation.

“It was open 24 hours a day for more than a year,” said the woman.

There were about 40 people in the game room at the time of the raid. Andy Lam, 27, was arrested and charged for Misdemeanor Possession of Gambling Equipment/Paraphernalia.

“Additional criminal charges will soon be filed on other game room attendants as a result of the investigation," said Constable Mark Herman, Harris County Pct. 4.

Herman warns that game rooms often serve as a gateway for other crimes.

"Gaming rooms, it has been proven time and time again, there's illicit activity," said Herman. "It brings on prostitution, drug use, and bottom line is we're not going to tolerate that in north Harris County."

The constable also confirmed other investigations into suspected illegal game rooms are pending.